Sunday, December 7, 2014

Reinvest North County Fund was created by non-profit North County Regional Development Association to provide immediate relief to small businesses in Ferguson, Missouri, which were damaged by the recent civil unrest in Ferguson. More than $100,000 in grants has been awarded. Most businesses owned by minorities

Following the recent announcement by a grand jury that Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson would not be indicted in the death of Mike Brown, riots and fires broke out all across Ferguson, Missouri. There were a reported 25 fires started by vandals and looters in protest. Sadly, most of the businesses affected were owned by minorities. Senseless violence, seemingly intended to demonstrate white treatment of blacks, went out of control, resulting in hurting black and minority business owners. It made no sense.

Help is available

The community rallied, and through donations from many organizations such as the Civic Pride Foundation of the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission, Clark-Fox Family Foundation, Negwer Materials, Inc., St. Louis Regional Chamber, UMB Bank, the University of Missouri St. Louis and the Kwame Foundation, money has been raised so the community can give grants to businesses in need of help.

Grant money may be used for loss of inventory, fixtures, furniture, for clean-up supplies, and for customer retention programs.